Convertible trailer



A. P. LEE. CONVERTIBLE ,TRAILER. APPLICATION mu) nmza. 191s.

Patented May 3, 1921.

6 SHEETSSHEET 1- A. P. LEE.

CONVERTIBLE TRAILER.

APPLICAHON FILED mus. m9.

1,376,443. Patented May 3,1921;

6 $HEETSSHEET 2- W W$0QZ A. P. LEE.

CONVERTIBLE TRAILER.

APPLICATION man mmzs. x919.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3- Doc A. P. LEE.

CONVERTIBLE TRAILER- APPLICAHON mu) APR-2B, 1919.

1,376,443. Patented May 3, 1921.

6 SHEETS-SHET 4.

A. P. LEE.

CONVERTIBLE TRAILER.

APPLICATION HLED APR-281 IQIQ- 1,376,443. Patented May 3, 1921.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5 Q1 XMVM A. 1. LEE.

CONVERTIBLE TRAILER.

APPLICATWN FILED APR. 28. 1919.

Patented May 3, 1921.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

VII/(14$.

w WZMJL [Ma/1W UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT P. LEE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 'I'O LEE LOADED. & BODYCOMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CONVERTIBLE TRAILER.

Specification 01' Letters Patent.

Patented May 3, 1921.

Application filed April 28, 1919. Serial No. 293,202.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT P. LEE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicage, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a certain new and useful Im rovement in Convertible TraiL ers,of which th following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspecification.

My invention relates to trailers and has among its objects theproduction of a trailer structure so arranged that in one of its formsit constitutes a four-wheeled trailer and when converted constitutes asemitrailer capable of mounting upon the rear' hopper and holding thehopper in any given desired position.

My invention further contemplates the arrangement of a dumping hopper insuch a manner that it can be used for road spreadin urposes.

y invention furthermore in one of its forms contemplates astructurehaving a framework of such a nature that it can properly accommodatea-dumping hopper and at the same timecan accommodate a wa on body.

y invention furthermore contemplates a framework of such a characterthat when arranged in a given manner it can accommodate the dumpinghopper aforesaid and when differently arranged constitutes what iscalled an express body or a body of the ordinary square permanent type.

I will explain my invention more in detail by referring to theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side view of a trailercon-- 1 ing a rear dump hopper 11.

be seen, is of the drop frame type, that por tion of the frame which islowered support- An ordinary rectangular wagon body 12 is shown mountedu on the front end of the framework 10. uitable rear wheels 13 supportthe rear of the framework and the front end of the framework is, throughthe interposition of a turn table or fifth wheel structure, mounted upona two wheel truck structure in such manner that its connection betweenthe front end of the framework 10 and the truck structure 14 can bereadily accomplished and the cooperating fifth wheel structure of theframework 10 mounted upon the rear of a hauling truck. The convertiblenature of my structure will thus be readily apparent in that it may beused as a semi-trailer having the rear wheels 13, the front extremity ofthe framework 10 being rotatably mounted upon the rear of a draft truckor the truck structure 14 may be mounted below the front end of theframework 10 and the devicethenconstitutes an ordinary four-wheeltrailer, in which condition it is shown in Fi 1. The truck structure 14has th whee s 15 and the draw bar 16. Suitable springs are interposedbetween the wheels and the framework 10, as readily ap a-rent from thefi ures. The disconnectible or demountab e fifth wheel structure whichis interposed between the framework 10 and the truck structure 14 ismore clearly apparent from an inspection of Fig. 2 where the twocooperating and circular fifth-wheel elements 17 and 18 are shown, theelement 17 being mounted upon the framework 10 and the element 18 uponthe truck structure 14. The rings 17 and 18 are slidable one upon theother so that the truck structure 14 may pivot relatively to thestructure 10. A king bolt 19 is provided and this is removably held inplace by the forked retaining element 20. The king bolt is fixedlymounted upon the the truck structure 14 withdrawn from underneath.

By referring again to Fig. 1, it will be noted that the dumping hopper11 is of the rear dump variety and is so arranged as will be presentlyexplained that it can roll down a runway 22 to its discharge position,suitable means including the cable 23 being provided to permit of thisdescent rather rapidly, or" in a predetermined slow manner b easystages. The ho per is provided wit an ad'ustable cover p ate 24 for thesnout so that it can serve for road spreading puroses. When used forroad work the small ody portion 12 can carry tools as may be desired.

To indicate further the convertible nature of the structure reference ishad to Fig.8

where the dumping hopper 11 is displaced by a body structure having thefloor 25 which is preferably even with the floor of the body portion 12.Suitable struts 26 are provided and in fact entirel closed sides may beprovided for this auxiliary body, as may be desired. The body portion 12has a hlnged sectional rear door 27 which is normally closed, as shownin Fig. 1, but which when the structure is converted is laid in ahorizontal manner, as shown more clearly in Fig. 8, so as to provide acontinuous floor, that is, the floor 25 together with a portion of thedoor 27 and the floor of the body portion 12 form a continuoussubstantially even surface. The hollow space 28 beneath the floorportion 25 can also be suitably utilized for carrying purposes, as maybe desired.

When the bod is such as shown in Fi 8, it is what is called the expresstype. aving thus explained the general nature of the device, the detailswill now be more clearly set forth.

The framework 10 consists of the side bars 29 and 30, suitably heldtogether at their ends and intermediately by angle iron cross-pieces 31,32, 33, 34 and 35, thusmaking a very ri id and substantial structure. Aportion 0 this framework 10 is constructed in the form of a rail 22, asshown more clearly in Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 8, thus forming two rails u onwhich the dumping hopper 11 may roll rom its charge carrying positionshown in Fig. 1 to a discharge position in which the pins 36 pivot inthe fingers 37 provided upon the extremities of the rail 22. Thestructure which controls the position of the hopper consists of a pairof links 38 and 39, the link 39 being pivoted extremities of said linupon the framework 10 at one extremity thereof and the link 38 beingpivoted at one extremity upon the hopper 11. The other 8 are thenpivoted ther and under the control of a cord 23. rimarily it should alsobe noted that the hopper 11 has a circular rail 40 forming part of itsouter contour which cooperates with the rails orrunways 22. The cord 23has its free extremities controlled by a sheave 41 about which saidsheave the cord is wound. The cord extends around an idler pulley 42shown more clearl in Fig. 2 and then around an idler ul ey 43 pivotallycarried upon the wall 0 the hopper 11. Assume now that the left handextremity of the rope (Fig. 2) is released. Then the hopper which isoverweighted toward the rear rolls of its own motion downwardly into itslimiting dumping position, the weight of the hopper being sufiicient tocause the links 38 and 39 to swing to the rear as these links areat 'notime moved into a straight line position by the cord 23.Instrumentalities are provided, however, for so controlling theextremity of the rope 23 that it may unwind slowly from the sheave 41,thus absolutely controlling the descent of the hopper and holding it inany desired position. Under these conditions the trap door 24 near thedischarge mouth of the hopper may be open any desirable distance so asto permit the contents of the hopper to he s read evenly over the roadas the trailer is being moved forwardly. After the hopper 11 is dumped,it can be restored to its charge carrying position of Fig. 1 by windingup the extremity of the rope 23 upon the pulley 41 and thereupon the hoperis drawn into its original position. T e rope draws the links 38 and39 into the position of Fig. 1 and at the same time tilts the hoppercontra-clockwise by reason of the engagement between the ro e and thepulley 43.

t will be noted that a very substantial fiat floor portion is providedupon which the hopper rests when in its charge carrying position.'Furthermore, the front wall of the hopper is inclined and rests uponthe inclined portion of the framework 10 so that the hopper is held in avery secure position.

By referring more particularly to Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7, the controlstructure for the rope 23 will be apparent. The pulley 41 is mountedupon a shaft 44 pivotally carried in cross-pieces 45 and 46 secured tothe framework 10, this shaft having at its extremity one element 47 of aclutch structure. The second element 48 of this clutch structure issplined and slidable upon a shaft 49 and controlled by means of thefingerpiece fingerpiece is moved to the left, thus disengaging theclutch elements 47 and 48, then there is no longer any connectionbetween the shafts 44 and 49 and they may rotate independently. Assumethat the rope 23 is entirely wound upon the pulley 41, then if thefinger piece 50 is drawn to the left, disengaging clutch elements 47 and48, then the hopper 11 may roll down to its discharge position, therebeing nothing to retard its progress. \Vhenever the clutch elements 47and 48 are in engagement, however, then the position of the hopper 11 iscontrolled by the operations of the shaft 51, which shaft iscontrollable through the agency of any suitable handle, as may bedesired. The shaft 51 carries a worm wheel 52 which 00- operates with aworm 53, the worm 53 being mounted upon a shaft 54, which shaft alsocarries the bevel gear The bevel gear 55 meshes with'a bevel gear 56fixedly secured to the shaft 49. It will thus be noted that as the shaft51 is turned, it turns the shaft 49 and thus controls absolutely theposition of the rope in connection with the pulley 41 and therebycontrols the position of the hopper 11. The worm and worm wheelconnection between the shaft 51 and shaft 4?) constitutes a lockingconnection so that the shaft 49 even though it has a tendency to rotatedue to the pull of the rope 23 upon the pulley 41 cannot rotate theshaft 51. It will be noted that another idler pulley .37 is provided, asshown more clearly in Fig. 2. together with the rope 23.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 8, I show in this figure anauxiliary body structure consisting of the framework 58 which can besuitably bolted to the framework 10 when the dumping hopper 11 isremoved. For this purpose suitable filler structures 59 and so areprovided, more particularly to hold the auxiliary body structure inposition. As already explained, the floor 25 of this auxiliary-bodypreferably alines itself with the floor of the body structure 12, thusto make one continuous flat express body.

From what has been thus described the nature of my invention will bereadily apparent and it will also be apparent that many modificationsmay be made Within the scope of the appended claims.

llaving however thus described my invention, what I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described, a vehicle framework providedwith a runway having a flat portion and a downwardly sloping portion. ahopper having an inclined front wall and a flat portion conforming tothe flat portion of said runway, said hopper being adapted to rollautomatically down the sloping portion of said runway to dischargeposition. and an abutment havin an inclined face conforming to theinclined front wall of said hopper, said flat portions and said inclinedportions cooperating to provide a substantial support for said 10pperwhile in normal position.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a vehicle framework,:1 one way dumping hopper mounted on said framework and a runway alongwhich said hopper is adapted to roll, said runway having pivot means atthe end thereof, said framework being provided with a support upon whichthe bottom of said hopper rests in normal load carrying position andsaid hopper having a bottom of substantial area and having a portionadapted to coiiperate with a portion of said runway as said hopperleaves said support with a tilting movement and rolls to dischargeposition, and said support being shaped substantially to conform to theshape of said hopper bottom to provide a substantial support for saidhopper when in load carrying position, said hopper being so constructedthat the same has a tendency when loaded to roll substantiallyautomatically from load carrying toward discharge position with a finalpivotal discharge movement about said pivot means.

3. A device of the character described including a dropframe trailerframework, a removable rear dump hopper carried by said framework at itsdepressed portion, and a stationar body carried upon its raised portion,sai framework having means for receiving and holding an express typebody in place of said hopper.

4. Adevice of the character described including a dropframe trailerframework, a removable rear dump hopper carried by said framework at itsdepressed portion, and a stationary body carried upon its raisedportion, said framework havmg means for receiving and holding an ex resstype body in place of said hopper, t e floor of said stationar' bod beinin substantial alinement wit the oor 0 said express type body whenmounted in place.

5. A device of the characterdeseribed including a dropframe trailerframework, a, removable rear dump hopper carried by said framework atits de ressed ortion, a stationary body earrie upon lts raised portion,said framework having means for receiving and holding an express ty ebody in place of said hopper, and an ad iustable end wall for saidstationary body adapted in its alternative position to be alined withthe floor of said stationary body.

6. A device of the character described including a trailer framework,and a removable rear dump hopper carried by said: framework, saidframework having means for receiving and holding an express type body in(place of said be per.

7 A evice of the c aracter described com rising a vehicle framework,said framewor being'provided with a substantially flat support, aone-way dumping hopper mounted on said framework and a runwa alon whichsaid hopper is ada ted to rol said opper having a substantia iy fiatportion conformin to said flat support and resting thereon in normalload carrying position and having a ortion adapted to cooperate with aninc ined portion of said runway when said hop er rolls to dischargeposition, said hopper eing so constructed that the same has a proressivel increasing tendency when loade to r01 substantiallautomatically from load carryin to disc arge osition as the same movesrom load carrying to discharge position.

8. A device of the character described including a dropframe framework,and an express type body carried thereby having its floor su stantiallyin alinement with the raised portion of said framework.

9. A'device of the character described including a dropframe frameworkhaving a sloping upper surface at its depressed portion, an express typebody carried thereby, and a filler interposed between said framework andsaid bod 10. A device of t e character described including a dropframeframework, and an express type body carried thereby having its floor sustantially in alinement with the raised portion of said framework, therebe ing a material receiving space between said floor and saidframework.

11. A device of the character described including a dropframe frameworkhaving a sloping upper surface at its depressed portion, an express typebody carried thereby,

40 and a filler interposed between said framework and said body, therebeing a material receiving space between said floor and said framework.

12 A device of the character described including a drop-frame framework,an express type body carried thereby having its floor substantiall inaiinement with the raised portion 0 said framework, and an auxiliarybody carried by said framework at its raised portion.

13. A device of the character described including .a drop-frameframework having a sloping upper surface at its depressed portion, anexpress type body carried thereby,

a filler inter osed between said framework and said b0 y, and anauxiliary bod carried by said framework at its raise portion.

14. A device of the character described including a drop-frameframework, an express ty e body carried thereby having its floor sustantially in alinement with the raised portion 'of said framework,there being .a material receiving space between said floor and saidframework, and an auxiliary body carried by said framework at its raisedportion.

15. A device of the character described including a; dropframe frameworkhaving a sloping upper surface at its depressed portion, an express typebody carried thereby, a filler inter osed between said framework andsaid bo y, there bein a material receiving s ace between sai floor andsaid framewor and an auxiliary body carried by said framework at itsraised portion.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 23rd day of April,A. D. 1919.

ALBERT P. LEE.

